A Medical Allergy Profile (MAP) card

Abstract

A Medications and Allergy Profile (MAP) card was created that lists instructions and the patient's individual drug regimen. This card is wallet-size and lists the patient's medications with schedule dosage. it also indicates allergies, usual peak flow, theophylline level and steroid dependence. Twenty-four age-matched asthmatics were asked to name their medications schedule and dosage. They were then assigned either to receive a MAP card or to be controls. There was no significant difference between the MAP card group and the controls in the accuracy of their responses initially but when the questions were repeated an average of 3.2 months later only the MAP group showed a significant improvement in naming medication, dose and schedule (p less than 0.001, 0.005, and 0.005, respectively). The MAP card can improve patients' comprehension of their drug regimen and improves medical communication.